Architect tells council: Carve up Brisbane Rd, make millions

Renowned Mooloolaba architect Ken Down says there is a simple solution for the Brisbane Rd carpark site that could deliver a windfall to council.

SIMPLE SOLUTION: Brisbane Road Carpark redevelopment, Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods

RENOWNED Mooloolaba architect Ken Down says there is a simple solution for the Brisbane Rd carpark site that could deliver a windfall to council.

An architect of 40 years who designed Australia Zoo's Crocoseum, Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club, Sunshine Coast Turf Club and several Coast schools, Mr Down said Sunshine Coast Council would be better off carving up the key site into "bite-sized" lots.

He said the council could cut out a block on the Smith St side to construct a 700-space carpark and then sell off two remaining lots for possible hotel or unit developments.

Mr Down said industry advice was that smaller projects were more attractive as funding for major projects became harder to secure after the banking royal commission.

He estimated the carpark, which would have three underground and four above-ground levels, could be built for about $20 million.

Between the land sales of the other two blocks and the sale of the airspace above the carpark for development, Mr Down said the council could make millions out of the deal.

ALTERNATIVE: Architect Ken Down says there are alternate options for the Brisbane Rd site which could enable the council to make money off land sales and airspace rights. Picture: Contributed

In Mr Down's model 100 carpark spaces would remain open on the balance of the site while the carpark was built.

During that time he said tenders could be called on the other lots and building could start once the carpark was open.

Local businesses and community groups last week criticised the council's commitment to reopen an expressions of interest process for the carpark site, after a failed deal with Abacus to develop the site.

Right To Information documents revealed the council was prepared to provide a 400-carpark relaxation on the Abacus proposal, despite council having identified Mooloolaba was 1100 carparks short of what it needed in the medium term.

Councillor John Connolly has submitted a motion to rescind the recent council resolution to revive the expressions of interest process.

He also publicly submitted an alternate motion to divide the site into two lots and begin calling for tenders to design and build a 700-space "council-owned, multi-deck carpark".

Architect Ken Down at his Mooloolaba office. Picture: Erle Levey

It's understood site clearing could begin in February and construction in May if councillors resolved to split the site.

Cr Connolly's alternate motion also included calling for tenders to develop the southern parcel, with construction understood to happen once the carpark was built.

Augello's Ristorante and Pizzeria co-owner Billy Moore said the business community needed more carparking and the "next most important thing is an international hotel".

"We do not need a supermarket," he said.

He said he understood it could be built in 9-10 months and importantly, avoid a carpark closure through Christmas.

Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce president Graeme Juniper said the organisation "wholly supports Cr Connolly's endeavours" to have construction begin on the carpark.

"The chamber does not support the current approved development, which Abacus declined to build, nor restarting the expression of interest process yet again," he said.

"The proposal by Cr Connolly to split the site and construct 700 carparks provides a higher number of car parks for visitors without confusing their use with those allocated to supermarket shoppers."

Mr Juniper said splitting the block and maximising the carparks on one half then selling the other made "perfect business sense" and would save ratepayers "many millions to boot".